Hestia Luxury Apartments – Ippokratous 35 stands as a beacon of modern elegance within the ancient yet vibrant city of Athens. In a city where space is a premium, these serviced self-catering apartments provide a spacious and welcome respite after a busy day of exploring the Greek capital.
The welcome
A welcome note on entering the apartment reads “In Greek mythology, Hestia was the goddess of the hearth, home and domesticity, and an important figure in ancient Greek society. At Hestia Luxury Apartments, we feel it’s our job to make you feel right at home.” And at home we certainly felt.
Access to Hestia Luxury Apartments is on a self-check-in basis and could not have been simpler with a keycode communicated to us on the day of our arrival in order to gain access. Whilst some might prefer a more personal welcome, for us this was just perfect as it meant we could settle in promptly, before immediately heading out to a Greek restaurant for dinner.
The apartment
We stayed in a two-bedroomed Superior Apartment. On entering, we immediately find ourselves in a a bright and airy open plan living space. The air conditioning gives an immediate respite from the heat outside.
Although there’s a kitchenette which provides you with everything you need to rustle up any meals you wish, it’s a shame not to make use of the many great restaurants that are within easy walking distance. Having said that, there’s a fridge, microwave oven, two-ring hob, dishwasher, kettle and coffee maker, along with a tray with a selection of teas and coffees. There’s even the option to order breakfast in bed using the Athens inbreakfast.com service, details for which can be found in the apartment, so long as you order by 11pm the night before.
At the far end of this living space is a sofa and TV with access to multiple international channels. It’s a pleasant space to relax and surprisingly tranquil despite the hustle and bustle of the apartment’s central location.
The apartment has two bedrooms, each with Queen size beds and fitted wardrobes. There’s also a safe to secure passports or valuables.
Sandwiched between the two bedrooms is a bathroom, compact but ample for our needs, with a rainfall shower, washbasin and WC.
A generous selection of Olive Era care products, based on the extra virgin Cretan olive oil, are kindly provided. These include hair wash and body wash with bio olive oil and mountain tea, and conditioner with bio olive oil and amberwood and salt.
The facilities
The most notable ‘hidden gem’ at Hestia Luxury Apartments – Ippokratous 35 is the rooftop which offers sweeping views over Athens and, most notably, an uninterrupted view of the Acropolis. There’s seating here to enjoy a morning coffee or indeed to admire the Parthenon illuminated at night.
There’s even access to a laundry room at the mezzanine of the building with access to washing machines and dryers.
The apartments also happen to be situated above a traditional Greek restaurant, Nikitas, which – in addition to offering Greek dishes – has its own pizza oven for takeaway pizzas. There is a gym opposite, too.
The location
The apartments are situated in the Exarcheia neighbourhood of the city, where it meets the Kolonaki and Akadimia districts; it’s in the heart of the action and yet surprisingly tranquil. There are plenty of green spaces nearby – Strefi Hill and Pedion tou Areos to the north, and Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens, rising 277 metres to the south-east. This part of the city is close to several universities and cultural institutions including the Academy of Athens and the National Library, meaning it’s popular with students and academics; there are also plenty of places to eat out within easy reach. We mostly explored on foot, with the Acropolis a pleasant two-kilometre stroll away, but yellow taxis frequent the streets and can easily be hailed. The area is also well-connected by public transport, with multiple buses serving the immediate vicinity and the Panepistimio metro station just 400 metres away.
Other nice touches
In addition to a welcome note, there was a complimentary bottle of wine, plus a fridge well stocked with bottled water which was very much appreciated given the 35°C (95°F) heat outside. A QR code in the apartment links us to the Hestia Concierge Service – from there, you can connect to the concierge via WhatsApp (which we found to be very responsive and helpful on the one occasion when we had a query).
The cost
Rates for a Deluxe Apartment start from as little as €117 per night
Superior Apartments, like the one we stayed in, start from €133 per night
Apartments with their own balcony start from €149 per night
The best bit
Whilst we loved the location and the privacy of our accommodation, undoubtedly the highlight is the stunning rooftop view. It was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves frequently the sole occupants of this splendid space, allowing us to enjoy it all to ourselves.
The final verdict
Our accommodation encapsulates the spirit of its namesake, the goddess Hestia, by providing a home from home environment in this wonderfully vibrant city. Just as Hestia represented the warmth and comfort of the hearth in ancient Greek mythology, Hestia Luxury Apartments offers a modern and spacious refuge, helping to ensure that every stay in Athens is both memorable and enriching.
Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by Hestia Luxury Apartments.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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